Veronica plant named ‘Balmoomaui’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Balmoomaui’, characterized by its medium purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Veronica spicata.

Variety denomination: ‘Balmoomaui’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronicaplant botanically known as Veronica spicata and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balmoomaui’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inCochranville, Pa., during October 2013. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Veronica cultivars that flower without avernalization requirement, have attractive and numerous inflorescences,and a compact, upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Veronica cultivar was the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Mauve‘Novavermau’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,621, characterized by its mediumpurple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit. The male (pollen)parent of the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Pink ‘Novaverpin’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 25,748, characterized by its very pale purple-colored flowers,dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact,upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during June 2016 in a controlled environment inCochranville, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJune 2016 in Cochranville, Pa. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balmoomaui’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Veronica plant:

-   -   1. Medium purple-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having less red coloration in the flower color. Plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily inhaving a darker purple flower color.

Of the many commercially available Veronica cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Dark Pink ‘Balmoodink’,co-pending application. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balmoodink’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have more purple coloration in the        flower color than plants of ‘Balmoodink’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer inflorescences per        plant than plants of ‘Balmoodink’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have longer leaves than plants of        ‘Balmoodink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balmoomaui’. The plants were approximately four months old. The plantswere grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers forapproximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3.5weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were givenone pinch at approximately one week before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balmoomaui’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of‘Balmoomaui’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximatelyfour-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers forapproximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 3.5weeks in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were givenone pinch at approximately one week before transplant. Greenhousetemperatures in Elburn, Ill. were maintained at approximately 65° F. to70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lightingwas provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica spicata ‘Balmoomaui’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—MOODY BLUES Mauve ‘Novavermau’, U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 26,621.        -   Male parent.—MOODY BLUES Pink ‘Novaverpin’, U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 25,748.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot. Vernalization to            initiate flowering is not required.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4b (−25° F. to −20° F./−31.7° C. to            −28.9° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 38.0 cm. Width: Approximately 35.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Branch height to bottom of            inflorescence: Approximately 13.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of            young stems: 146B. Color of mature stems: 146B, becoming            woody 200D with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 14. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Lanceolate.            Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            9.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower            surface: Moderately pubescent and densely pubescent on            venation. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to NN137A. Color of lower surface of young            and mature foliage: Closest to 138A. Venation of upper and            lower surface: 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Width: Approximately            4.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balmoomaui’ is a long-day obligate, freely            flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming from            early spring through autumn.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme, self-cleaning.            Fragrance: None detected. Height: Approximately 12.0 cm to            18.0 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 5.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0            mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Aspect:            Outward. Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 70.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: NN155D with an overlay of N82B.        -   Corolla.—Height: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Appearance: Dull. Shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Entire, wavy. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Fused into            tube. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces when            first open: N82C. Color of upper and lower surfaces when            fully open N82B to N82C.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tube            opening: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:            Densely pubescent. Color of pubescence: NN155D. Texture of            outer surface: Glabrous. Color of inner surface: NN155D.            Color of outer surface: N82D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Lanceolate, fused at            base. Apex: Acute. Length: Two larger sepals approximately            5.0 mm and two smaller sepals approximately 4.0 mm. Width of            all sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:            Moderately pubescent and densely pubescent on margins. Color            of upper and lower surfaces: 137A with 146D at base.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Approximately            45° angle from peduncle. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with appressed and curled hairs. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per            flower. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament color:            N82C. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 79B. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 2D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma            color: N82A. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style            color: N82B. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary            color: 145A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Veronica has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plantnamed ‘Balmoomaui’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.